The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team is going to be young this season. With only three seniors, the team lacks experience heading into the season.

"We have five newcomers, so that's going to be a little bit of the early stages, non-conference to get those guys playing experience to get ready for conference play," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "But, a little bit of inexperience in some positions is going to be an early tell."

With an overall record of 7-22 and 4-12 in conference play, the Redhawks fell one conference win short of making the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in Marganthaler's first season a year ago. Eight teams qualify for the tournament. Southeast came in 10th place out of 11 teams in the OVC last season.

"We were one game away from it last year and we learned a lot from that," Margenthaler said. "And with three starting seniors back from last year's basketball team we learned a lot, and that's something they want to leave on their legacy -- just being a part of that tournament."

The team is picked to finish sixth in the OVC West Division by the preseason poll, which was voted on by OVC head coaches and sports information directors. The OVC will be split into two divisions this season for the first time ever. There are six teams in both divisions, West and East.

The three returning seniors will all be start for the Redhawks. Forward Brittany Harriel led the team in scoring last season with 10.2 points per game. Forward Bailie Roberts was second on the team in scoring with 9.7 points per game.

Also returning is forward Courtney Shiffer, who contributed 6.2 points per game and led the team with 21 blocks. Southeast averaged 52.5 points per game last season which was the worst in the OVC. The Redhawks also averaged the worst shooting percentage in the OVC, shooting .34 percent from the floor.

"I've been working on my outside game, increasing my shooting range," Shiffer said. "So, I've been working on that to help out the team this year to be more of an offensive threat."

Shiffer had a .342 field-goal percentage last season, which was the fourth highest on the team.

Roberts hopes to improve her defense and ball-handling skills. She averaged 6.1 rebounds per game and had 23 steals last season. She also wants to improve her leadership skills in order to give the Redhawks a better chance to make the tournament.

"We're working for a championship every day, that's what we've got our eyes set on," Roberts said. "So, we know what it takes, we've just got to do it from this point out."

Margenthaler also will count on some of the newcomers to contribute.

"I see a newcomer that's really going to be special for us," Margenthaler said. "That's Jordan Hunter, our point guard. She will be able to come in and play right away as well."

Hunter transferred to Southeast from Crowder Community College in Neosho, Mo. She averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She is also a member of the New Zealand national team and appeared in two games during the Olympic qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

"As a point guard coming in, [I want to] control the team on the floor and try to make an impact," Hunter said.

Margenthaler hopes that the team will be more consistent this season. The Redhawks did not win back-to-back games last season and lost their first six games of the season.

"I think if we continue to grow and are more consistent, the wins will come like we want them to," Margenthaler said. "That will be the biggest thing -- consistency."

The team's greatest strength is going to be its willingness to improve. With a young roster, players will be fighting for playing time and more experience.

"I just think their willingness to get better and better everyday is a strength," Margenthaler said. "I think they're showing great toughness and willingness to get better. That's definitely, in the early stages, a major strength for us."

Southeast's first regular season game is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 against Wright State in the Show Me Center.